Toronto mumps tally tops 40, Guelph confirms three

The mumps outbreak in Toronto has grown to 43 confirmed cases, according to Toronto Public Health. 100 km west of Toronto in Guelph, health officials there reported via Twitter that three confirmed cases of the mumps in the city are likely linked to a recent keg party.

In Alberta, health officials say the number of mumps cases are at 41 with outbreaks being declared in the South Zone of Alberta Health Services, and in the Edmonton Zone (specific to the University of Alberta).

The latest update from Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living puts the outbreak in the province at 215 cases since last September.

Mumps is caused by the mumps virus, which is spread through respiratory droplets in the air formed when coughing or sneezing and through the sharing of food or drinks. You can also catch it by touching an item that was previously touched by an infected person and then touching your eyes or mouth.

Mumps symptoms generally occur between 12 to 25 days after infection and resolve three to ten days after onset of illness. The most common are fever and swollen cheeks and neck. Swollen cheeks and neck are due to swollen glands, usually under the ears or jaw on one or both sides of the face.

Approximately 20 per cent of those infected with mumps will not show any symptoms. Nearly half of those infected have mainly respiratory symptoms.

The average incubation period for mumps, which is the time from exposure to when the appearance of symptoms occurs, is 16-18 days with a range of 12-25 days.

A person is infectious from seven days before to 5 days after the onset of swollen glands. Maximum infectiousness occurs 2 days before symptoms until 5 days after. A person with no symptoms can transmit infection.